The Music of Jimmy Ojotriste

The Music of Jimmy Ojotriste Jimmy is a guitar prodigy wears hair long to cover scars and walks with the wide swing of a drop foot The lanky six foot musician is known on the east side as Ojotriste the mariachi with one sad e

Title: The Music of Jimmy Ojotriste

Author: Arturo Hernandez Sametier

ISBN: 099655940X

Page: 422

Format: Paperback

Jimmy is a guitar prodigy, wears hair long to cover scars, and walks with the wide swing of a drop foot The lanky, six foot musician is known on the east side as Ojotriste, the mariachi with one sad eye the legacy of a horrific accident that resulted in a beautiful but heartsick glass eye He has made a living since childhood with two other boys, serenading in the restaJimmy is a guitar prodigy, wears hair long to cover scars, and walks with the wide swing of a drop foot The lanky, six foot musician is known on the east side as Ojotriste, the mariachi with one sad eye the legacy of a horrific accident that resulted in a beautiful but heartsick glass eye He has made a living since childhood with two other boys, serenading in the restaurants and bars from Mariachi Plaza to the famous Mercadito.At twenty, each boy in the trio is hungry Jimmy is the best working guitarist on the street, but he is still undocumented, disabled and living on tips He has fallen hard for a striking, Jewish flamenca from the Valley, and he wants to find a way into her world Ray, the violinist in Jimmy s trio, is refusing to accept the cancer they have found in his bones, and thinks music, not medicine, will keep him alive Vic, the trio s handsome tenor, is dating a Vietnamese businesswoman, and needs music to become money In a flamenco and mariachi odyssey, three young musicians in a half painted low rider leave the east side and take on the city in search of love, money and a miracle Romantic in the biggest sense of the word Review Lovely novel about young mariachis finding their place in the world, soaked in a vibrant sense of place and time Somehow captures that feeling of being twenty and seeing the world spread before you in a way I ve rarely seen portrayed well Review Wrapped in the sights and sounds of 1970s Los Angeles, vibrant and nostalgic, Hernandez explores the complex intersections of race, love, poverty and coming of age and through it all we are serenaded by his lyrical descriptions of the life and music of the mariachi Tate Hurvitz, Phd Grossmont College Literature Dept Reminded me of Mambo Kings Definitely for music lovers and romantics Lyrical scenes odd and memorable characters lots of taste and smell the author uses food like music Anyone interested in flamenco, mariachi, and Hispanic culture will be immersed I learned of the book through Las Comadres a Latino lit reading group at our bookstore Review

One thought on “The Music of Jimmy Ojotriste”

Lovely novel about young mariachis finding their place in the world, soaked in a vibrant sense of place and time. Somehow captures that feeling of being twenty and seeing the world spread before you in a way I've rarely seen portrayed well.

I received the book from the author as a 's giveaway. Mr Hernandez-Sametier graciously signed my copy. The three main characters are endearing: Jimmy Ojotriste (sad eye) is a mariachi performer with only one eye, the other a beautiful but sad glass eye. Victor also plays guitar and drives a Galaxy that he dreams of turning into a low rider. Ray is a Chinese-Mexican violinist in this trio's mariachi group. They share music and their dreams.An area I struggled with was that the book was written mo [...]

Reminded me of Mambo Kings. Definitely for music lovers and romantics. Lyrical scenes - odd and memorable characters; lots of taste and smell (the author uses food like music). Anyone interested in flamenco, mariachi, and hispanic culture will be immersed. I learned of the book through "las comadres" a latino lit reading group at our bookstore.